Fleas

Siphonaptera
siphon-like piercing and sucking mouthparts
wingless

What is the order name of fleas and what does it mean?

wingless, laterally compressed, heavily sclerotized insects with compact thorax, large abdomen, piercing-sucking mouthparts, and powerful saltatorial legs with resilin in the pleural arch for jumping

What are the key morphological characteristics of fleas?

Female: Larger; has a spermatheca to store sperm.
Male: Has clasping organs and a coiled penis (aedeagus).

What features distinguish male and female fleas?

holometabolous, passing through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages in ~1 month

Describe the complete metamorphosis of fleas.

laid in the environment
hatch in 1–10 days

Where are flea eggs typically found and how long before they hatch?

can remain dormant for months

What is notable about the pupal stage of fleas?

Within 24–36 hours of emergence;
can lay 25–50 eggs/day

When do adult fleas start laying eggs and how many?

Presence or absence of pronotal and genal combs

What are the most important diagnostic characteristics in flea identification?

Sclerites

Hardened chitin plates (tergites – dorsal, pleurites – lateral, sternites – ventral).

Chaetotaxy

Pattern of bristles/hairs (setae) on the body.

Pulex irritans – Human flea
Ctenocephalides felis – Cat flea
Ctenocephalides canis – Dog flea
Xenopsylla cheopis – Oriental rat flea
Nosopsyllus fasciatus – Northern rat flea

Name important flea species and their common hosts.

Plague (Yersinia pestis) – X. cheopis, P. irritans
Murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi) – X. cheopis
Tungiasis – Tunga penetrans

What major diseases are fleas known to transmit?

Dipylidium caninum – C. canis, P. irritans, N. fasciatus
Hymenolepis diminuta and H. nana – X. cheopis

Which parasites use fleas as intermediate hosts?

Sanitation
Pet Treatment
Environmental Treatment

What are the components of Integrated Flea Control?

Indoor/Pet: Pyrethrins, Methoprene, Pyriproxifen, D-limonene
Outdoor: Carbaryl, Diazinon, Malathion, Chlopyrifos
Pet Bedding: Diatomaceous earth

What are effective insecticides against fleas?

Read labels
Avoid exposure to children
Use proper formulations (liquid preferred outdoors)

What precaution should be observed when using insecticides?

Rodents are primary hosts of many flea species; controlling them reduces flea populations and disease risk.

Why is rodent control critical in flea management?

Eliminate food sources
Rodent-proof buildings
Reduce hiding places
Practice proper food storage
Destroy infested rodents

How can rodent control be achieved?

Location: Ankles, feet
Appearance: Small, grouped, sometimes patterned

How are flea bites identified?

Avoid scratching
Use home remedies: cold compress, baking soda, lemon, aloe
Apply calamine lotion to relieve itching

What are treatments for flea bites?